Former deputy Ron Lupo a free man

The last key figure in the notorious East Detroit and Clintondale public schools racketeering scandal has received an early release from his court supervision due to his advancing age, according to court documents.

Ronald Lupo, a retired Macomb County Sheriff’s inspector, was granted an early termination earlier this month by U.S. District Court Judge Patrick Duggan after having served more than half of his three years of supervision following an 80-month prison term, online court records show.

“Clearly, Mr. Lupo has paid his debt to society, by serving his full custodial sentence,” defense attorney Brian Legghio wrote in his motion to the court to sever the supervised release.

Lupo, 72, was sentenced on a federal racketeering conviction in 2005 to serve 80 months in prison and pay $300,000 in restitution to the two school districts. He was released from prison in February 2011 and began his supervised release.

He was one of 20 people named in a 35-county indictment handed down by a federal grand jury that outlined a system of kickbacks and bribes from a contractor who defrauded East Detroit Public Schools and Clintondale Community Schools out of at least $3 million.

Federal prosecutors said it was the largest public corruption scandal in Macomb County’s history.

According to testimony, Lupo partnered with former Clintondale superintendent Raymond Contesti to take bribes and favors in exchange for landing a contractor, William Hudson Jr., additional work on bond projects for the two school districts. Also convicted in the scam was John Gardiner, a former East Detroit school superintendent.

Contesti was released in 2006 after serving 23 months in prison, while Gardiner got out in 2009 after 41 months. Hudson was released in 2009.

Federal prosecutors showed Lupo and Contesti established a partnership with Hudson, where Lupo — who the feds called a “bag man” in the scheme — received $600,000 in regular cash payments and $300,000 in home improvements from Hudson.

In May, Lupo asked the court to lift the terms of his sentence to release him from court supervision, but Assistant U.S. Attorney John Engstrom — the lead prosecutor in the investigation and trial — opposed the reduction and the court denied an early termination.

Now that Lupo has completed more than half of the term of supervised release, Engstrom did not object, court records show. Likewise, U.S. Probation Officer Heather McCamley indicated she saw no reason why the motion should not be granted, court documents state.

Legghio, who did not respond to a phone call for comment, in his motion told the court that at age 72 and with no prior criminal history, Lupo is unlikely to be involved with any other criminal activity. He further said that since Lupo was forced to serve his entire sentence, there is no further deterrent effect needed.

“While in prison, (Lupo) was en exemplary prisoner who worked and took advantage of (Bureau of Prison) programs,” Legghio said in his motion. “(Lupo) completed his stay at the halfway house without incident.”

In addition, Legghio provided documentation from the school districts that restitution has been paid. Court records show East Detroit Public Schools and Clintondale Community Schools had both received the money from Lupo and his wife, Annette.

The disgraced former lawman appears to be in failing health. In earlier motions, he complained the federal prison system failed to provide adequate medical treatment for a number of ailments including sleep apnea, high blood pressure, dizziness, neuropathy, constant cramping and others. His eyesight reportedly has diminished to the point where even simple reading is difficult, records show.